The Quad - Advent 2016 by Lancing College

Quad The

Advent Term 2016

LANCING COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Heigh-ho! Sing heigh-ho! Unto the Green Holly!

Contents 4

Staff News

College News

ReďŹ&#x201A;ections from Chapel

Pupil Voice

Trips & Visits

Music News

Drama News

Art News

Advent Term Sports Round-up

A Whole-School approach...

Academic Enrichment

Reading at Lancing

A Day in the Life...

Lancing Prep Hove

Lancing Prep Worthing

Events for Prep Schools

Foundation OďŹ&#x192;ce & Lancing Society

Diary Dates for the Lent Term

So sings Shakespeare’s Amiens in As You Like It, a refrain which acts as a counterpoint to a song of wintry woodland blasts. Winter it may be here at Lancing but it is the spirit of celebration which predominates and rightly so: this has been a term rich in achievement and festivity. I hope you have been enjoying the more regular news from the College delivered by our new monthly e-newsletter. This means The Quad includes both news and also information on how these elements fit into whole school activities – combining the ‘what’ and the ‘why’. As you will see, there is plenty to explore and discover in all sorts of arenas, from Pupil Voice in action to the sounds of song, drama, and cheers on the sports fields. As always, we end the term in the midst of traditional Christmas cheer as only Lancing can live it.

I write only moments after a wonderful evening of seasonal readings, a marvellous and contrasting juxtaposition with the delicious (and belt-busting) St Nicolas suppers, the glories of the Advent Concert and those ever-numinous candle-lit carol services. The cannon of Christmas decoration has been fired in all sorts of quarters too – Houses seem just as competitive in this arena as they are for end of term inter-House matches. Hard work (particularly so for two year groups as they exit trial examinations) has been much in evidence throughout the term and it is the time to pause and to celebrate. It seems right to give the refrain once more:

Dominic Oliver Head Master

Heigh-ho! Sing heigh-ho! Unto the Green Holly!

Lancing College Lancing, West Sussex BN15 0RW Tel: 01273 452213 Fax: 01273 464720 email: info@lancing.org.uk

www.lancingcollege.co.uk

We welcome your feedback and suggestions to: quad@lancing.org.uk

Staff News

A new academic year always brings new faces, and this term we welcomed 35 new members of staff to the College. We’re pleased to introduce several of them to you here.

New to the Common Room this term: • Gary Bird – Psychology • David Cutler – Physics • Simon Hosie – History & RS • Astrid Johnson – Business • Kevin Perrault – French • Isabelle Tarbet – French Assistante. Joining the wider College team: • Lottie Britton – Handford Matron • Taylor Carey OL (Head’s, 2009– 2011) – Verger and Curator of Lancing College Chapel • Karen MacLeod-Loomes Reception • Isobel Pope, Will O’Brien and Ross Paone – Undergraduate Assistants to the PE Department • Fraser Harrington - Music Department Graduate Assistant.

(L to R): Lottie Britton, Taylor Carey, Kay Blundell, John Bullen, Astrid Johnson, Hannah Bond, Simon Hosie, Isabelle Tarbet, Will O’Brien, Dominic Oliver, Kevin Perrault, Kirsty Keep, Gary Bird, Ross Paone, David Cutler and Isobel Pope

Finally, we welcome Kirsty Keep (previously at Downsend School, Leatherhead) as the new Head Mistress of Lancing College Preparatory School at Hove - more from Kirsty on page 28.

At the beginning of term, two key Heads of Department were appointed. Kay Blundell (right) joined us from Pangbourne College, Reading, as our new Head of Art, while John Bullen (left), previously at Skinners School, Tonbridge, is our new Head of Mathematics. We asked both for their first impressions of Lancing.

”Teaching at Lancing is an absolute pleasure, and this is largely down to the students. I have been thoroughly impressed, and a little astounded at times, by how much the students accomplish in the space of a single day.”

School meals are taken very seriously at Lancing, and feeding 580 pupils and over 200 members of staff is the daily challenge for Hannah Bond (right) and her team. Hannah joined the College from Bede’s School at the beginning of the Advent Term, and we’re really enjoying the changes to the menus and innovations that she’s introduced. Hannah and her team prepare and serve 8,750 meals to pupils and staff, every week, as well as providing the catering for college events. For most of the pupils, the College is home for 33 weeks of the year and Hannah’s mission is to provide good, wholesome home-cooked food, of the kind they might expect to have at home. We’re already looking forward to next term’s menus!

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“I have never felt so at home so quickly in any school, thanks to our inspirational students and brilliant teachers. Thank you for having me, Lancing!”

College News COMMISSIONING OF THE PREFECTS

On Sunday 10 September, the new academic year’s first Sung Eucharist for the Whole School took place, with a packed Chapel welcoming returning and new pupils and their families to the Lancing community. The service incorporated the formal commissioning of the 20 new prefects for 2016–17, and the announcement of this year’s Heads of School: • Sean Van Eynort – Head Boy • Elise Kearsey – Head Girl • William Jefferies – Deputy Head Boy • Maddy Padgett – Deputy Head Girl

(L to R): Maddy Padgett, Sean Van Eynort, Dominic Oliver, Elise Kearsey and William Jefferies

OPENING LENT TERM - LANCING COLLEGE EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

It has been keenly anticipated for some time now, so it’s with great excitement that we can announce that the Lancing College Equestrian Centre will open at the beginning of the Lent Term. Work over the past year on the existing buildings at Hoe Court has created an outstanding College facility, overseen by Jan Tupper, proprietor of Arniss Equestrian Ltd, near Fordingbridge. Jan will be running the Equestrian Centre on behalf of the College, and her experience and ideas have played an essential part in the successful completion of the project.

Set in over 15 acres and located just a short walk from the College, the Centre will provide riding for all abilities and stabling for up to 20 horses as well as a 40 x 20 metre all-weather arena. Pupils will be able to choose whether to have their own horse stabled at the Centre or use the Centre’s horses to have riding and stable management lessons. The aim of the Centre is to provide a first-class service to the College’s pupils, which will include flexible livery packages as well as individual care plans, to suit the specific needs of horses and their riders. An official opening is planned for the Lent term once the weather starts to improve.

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ANTI-BULLYING WEEK

The College’s team of 34 Peer Supporters, all from the Lower and Upper Sixth, fronted National AntiBullying Week (14–19 November) with talks in Houses, gatherings for tea and cake, quizzes, film evenings and a ‘Superhero’ dress up day as we focussed on being ‘a power for good’. During the week we also concentrated on looking out for and speaking up for others and the importance of collective kindness. This thread ran through Chapel and PSHE, and questionnaires were completed by the pupils via tutorials and House meetings.

Peer Supporters (with Father Richard) dressed for Anti-Bullying Week

WORLD’S LARGEST COFFEE MORNING

Thank you to everyone who baked, bought and ate cakes to help to raise money for the annual MacMillan Coffee Morning on 30 September. The final sum raised was just over £775.

**STOP PRESS**STOP PRESS** NEW LONDON/LANCING BUS SERVICE

From January, the College will be running two new bus services for pupils: • Bus 1 - From Victoria Coach Station to Lancing via Richmond and Wimbledon. • Bus 2 - From Cobham Services to Lancing via Guildford.

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NEW LANCING RECEPTION AREA WINS LOCAL BUILDING RESTORATION AWARD

We received news this month that the Lancing Reception has been awarded a winner of the inaugural Adur Distinction in Building Awards (Category E: Building Restoration). The judges felt that an elegant Reception for the College had been created and they were impressed with the quality of the finish achieved. They also commented on the way in which the space is used as a multifunctional area, with art works adorning the walls, musicians using the space, as well as it being a welcome area for guests to congregate. The careful and sympathetic transformation was completed a year ago using many of the original features. The £300,000 restoration was funded by the Lancing Foundation with funds donated by OLs, current parents and former parents.

Refurbishment Update It’s taken master planning and major artistry by Gavin Merryweather, Estates Bursar, who since 2013 has been overseeing the major refurbishment programme of all the College’s boarding accommodation, and more. This involved significant investment of £5.5m, as well as careful and sympathetic renovation of some of our oldest Houses, which date back to the 1850s, as well as building completely new developments. The overall incentive for the project has been to facilitate a move towards full co-education from 13–18 years, for all Houses, which is a core part of the ongoing success of the Lancing community.

“The refurbishment of the boarding accommodation has made a huge difference. When I show families and visitors around the College, I have a very great sense of pride in the place. It is all so very civilised and comfortable, and parents and prospective pupils are always very impressed.” Dr Andrew Betts, Registrar To date, refurbishment work to the following Houses has been completed:

GIRLS’ HOUSES

Manor House: Spring 2014 - new common areas, kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms were provided, as well as new furniture and carpets throughout. Field’s House: Work started in spring 2015 and by the summer the new common room, kitchens, and Third, Fourth and Fifth Form bedrooms were all in full use. Work was completed during the Advent Term, when the Lower Sixth girls were relocated to temporary accommodation in The Pad while work on the main corridor was completed. Handford House: Work on the £2m extension began in the Summer Term of 2015 and was completed for the start of the Advent Term 2016. As well as extra bedrooms and new bathrooms, the extension provided a 120m² common room with beautiful views of the Downs, and a spacious kitchen area.

BOYS’ HOUSES

Second’s House: From May 2014 to the end of April 2015, the entrance hall, common room and all bedrooms were completely stripped and redecorated, and new bathrooms and kitchens installed. Teme House: The common rooms and kitchens were the first areas to be tackled, in June 2014, followed by the installation of modern bathrooms and a new laundry room. During the summer 2015 holidays, the Victorian portion of the house was refurbished: this included new bedrooms and study areas. Gibbs’ House: Work started in July 2014 when it was discovered that extensive work to the roof, heating system and replacement boilers was required. This was followed by all bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and common rooms being gutted and redecorated, and new furnishings installed. School House: The College’s oldest and largest boarding house was worked on during the summer 2015 holidays and completed in the first half of the Advent Term. The Third, Fifth and Lower Sixth Form bedrooms and ‘Pitts Passage’ were refurbished, and a new central heating system and insulation provided. Alongside the extensive boarding upgrade, the refurbishment work also included: • The Library and Sanderson Room – re-roofed • New central heating system – moved from oil to gas • Improved insulation system and LED lighting. Refurbishment of the Houses and College buildings is an ongoing programme of work for the Bursar and Estate Department and there’ll be further updates throughout the year ahead. The Quad ∙ Advent 2016

Reflections from Chapel For the first time in the College’s history an OL returned to be the Chapel Verger. Taylor Carey, Head’s House 2009–2011, has decided to have a post-university gap year, after his time at St Andrews University, to be ‘Verger and Curator of the Chapel’ while allowing God, The Holy Spirit and the Church of England to guide him as he considers a calling to the sacred priesthood. He is undoubtedly the most theologically literate verger we have ever had and has already stepped in to preach here at the School Eucharist on 28 September when the Senior Provost had to cancel at the last minute. We are very lucky to have him at Lancing. Talking of Provosts, this term the happy announcement of our new ‘Provost of the South’ was made: Bishop Jonathan Meyrick, OL and Bishop of Lynn. The ceremony will take place on Saturday 21 January here in the Chapel. You will hear more of The Provost in issues to come. Other preachers this term have included Fr Ben Eadon CMP, from the wonderfully named St Symphorian’s Parish Church, who spoke about the Feast of S. Matthew and what it means to be one of the Company of Mission Priests. On the Feast of St Wilfrid, Fr Ed Thornley, Chaplain at a Woodard school in Marylebone, spoke movingly about the 2015 film Paper Towns. Fr Rob Coupland, Curate at S Michael and All Angels in Brighton, preached about the all-embracing inclusivity of the Gospel of St Luke. Paul Sanderson MBE, from the Woodard Littlehampton Academy, preached on the last words of Our Lord on the cross and made them relevant to Anti-Bullying Week in a remarkable way that included one pupil being the moon and another a cloud. Remembrance Sunday is an important day in a school like Lancing, and we were drawn to pay attention again to the world around us and its needs through the eyes of God, by the Rt Rev Michael Langrish, who is fast becoming a good friend to our school. You can find these sermons (as well those preached to commission the School Prefects at the beginning of the academic year and on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, and others, which this writer is too modest to mention here) under the Chapel link on the College website. Fr Richard

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Pupils have their say... Teachers are professional listeners: it’s in their very marrow. It’s in the lessons where questions are asked and answered; it’s in the concert hall, the theatre and out on the playing fields. That interaction between teacher and pupil is what makes teaching such a rewarding vocation and way of life. There are few schools in the country that don’t have some form of student council or other mechanism for “listening” to the pupil body. Indeed, any inspection regime one cares to name has this as a box to tick on the form. The reasoning behind that requirement is common sense, for it gives pupils the skills of reasonable negotiation, positions of responsibility, an early introduction to the redress of grievances, and a pressure valve that also serves to give those that lead schools a chance to test the temperature of the community. Over the past two years we have been putting more emphasis on the importance of our pupils actually guiding the direction of the school in a meaningful partnership. Too often, whilst schools might listen, more often than not they do not act on what has been said, so school councils become mere sounding boards and an object more of frustration than of purposeful, meaningful dialogue. One of the very first items on the agenda of our new Head Master was to reinvigorate this mission, to give it clarity and purpose and, above all, to actively encourage our pupils to say their piece and achieve change as a result. Yet we also wanted to make sure that those formal structures would not replace the wonderful informality between pupils and staff here, on which so many visitors regularly comment. It has been a successful mission. In June 2015 we held the first of our elections to five Year Councils with membership consisting of a member of each House in each year. From each of those Year Councils the pupils elected a boy and a girl who, with the Head Boy and Head Girl, form a School Council. Each year group, in each House, is consulted for agenda items and each Year Council then sends two items forward to the School Council. The School Council then meets with the Head Master (Mr Oliver), Senior Deputy Head (Mrs Dugdale) and Assistant Head Pastoral (Mr Connolly). Various senior members of staff are

called in to consult with the pupils on specific items – such as IT. All Councils meet twice during each term. There are a host of other ways in which the school hears the voices of pupils. The Food Committee works in partnership with the catering staff under the lead of the new Catering Manager, Mrs Bond, and few would disagree that the standard of catering has shot up in only a few months. The School Prefects, led by the Heads of School, Elise Kearsey and Sean Van Eynort, continue to represent the views of pupils to Senior Management in weekly meetings while, at a House level, the House Prefects and Heads of Houses act as a crucial conduit for communication between Housemasters and Mistresses. Of course, we hear the voices of pupils not just as a collective, but as individuals. The tutoring programme here has been reinforced by the addition of a ring-fenced tutorial slot on Saturday morning, whilst the PSHE programme continues to react to pupil demand, perhaps best demonstrated by the six-week-long ‘Leaving Lancing’ programme requested by the Upper Sixth. Of course, our Peer Supporters (34 pupils trained in counselling) continue to listen to their peers and offer support and advice for those in need. Naturally, we can’t act on everything, and we simply can’t meet all that is requested, but open and honest negotiation is part and parcel of listening and, in itself, gives an insight to the pupils about the competing pressures that are inherent in running a school. As we move forward we are looking to challenge pupils to give us ideas about a ‘greener’ Lancing, better induction of new pupils, and co-curricular opportunities. Nothing is off the list of things that we want to hear. Dan Connolly, Assistant Head Pastoral

School Council proposals that have recently been put in place: • • • • • • • • • •

IT code of conduct (drafted by pupils) Pupil-led IT sub committee Library opening hours extended to 9.30pm Science block pigeonholes Upgraded ventilation in Cherry Hall Better seating at the AstroTurf Review of the Lancing timetable for Third and Fourth Forms (for September 2017) Introduction of cookery Café opening for the Third Form Refurbishment of basketball court.

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Trips & Visits Lancing is well-known for its all-round approach and our educational visits are positive—sometimes life-changing— experiences for our pupils. They offer wonderful opportunities for learning outside the academic syllabus and while it is possible to learn the basic concepts in the classroom, there is no substitute for real experience in the wider world. Lancing’s programme of

educational trips and visits is carefully planned alongside the curriculum and the educational experience we provide: we aim to give all our pupils the opportunity to develop interpersonal skills, including leadership, teamwork, trust and respect. School trips also make a major contribution to the acquisition of knowledge and development of

research and observational skills. Studies of the natural and man-made world, the past and present, science and arts, language and music can all be enhanced outside the classroom. Also, adventure activity and sports skills can form the foundation of lifelong interests that will have benefits in the areas of long-term physical and mental health.

“It’s not surprising that many of our Sixth Form leavers remark on the life-enhancing experiences that Lancing has given them.” Chris Foster, Director of Co-Curricular Activities

MALAWI EXPEDITION 2016

During the 2016 summer holiday, 17 Fifth and Sixth Form pupils made the College’s 17th biennial five-week visit to Malawi. Matt Smith, Senior Housemaster, Housemaster of Gibbs’ and Head of Drama, has led the expedition for the past 20 years and below are some reflections of the pupils’ experience:

“While we all got far too excited by the whole situation, I think we all agreed that—with the benefit of hindsight—it was an excellent achievement to have actually left a physical mark on Africa.”

“I went to bed that evening having had one of the best birthdays in my life and the thing that made it great was not the gifts, celebrations or activities, but the fact that I got to spend it with a kind, inspiring, warm-hearted group of people who really embodied the idea that Malawi is the warm heart of Africa.”

MALAWI FUNDRAISING UPDATE:

“The natural beauty of the country was breathtaking. It was genuinely an unforgettable experience.”

The final total for the 2016 Malawi Walk stands at £13,092.65. Of this, £7,000 was transferred to the Kamuzu Academy to pay for Norman Mandikisi’s schools fees for this academic year. The remaining balance will be given to the UK wing of Open Arms and Jacaranda Children’s Home and St Anne’s Hospital in Malawi. 12

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MILLENNIUM SEED BANK

The Upper Sixth biology students spent a day at Wakehurst in West Sussex in the beautiful botanic gardens that are managed by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. Wakehurst is home to the renowned Millennium Seed Bank, which so far has successfully saved seeds from over 13% of the world’s wild plant species. The lush gardens and meadows contain some of the rarest plant species in the world, and it was a privilege to visit. The garden was impressive, but I do not think anyone was prepared for the excitement of the Seed Bank, with its fortified research and storage facilities. At the latest seed count there are 34,088 wild plant species and 1,980,405,036 seeds in storage. The aim is to conserve 25% of the world’s plant species by 2020. The actual Seed Bank building is protected by security guards and has an incredibly thick, airtight, bomb-proof steel door, with 24–hour surveillance. Walking through the woods and meadows, we also learned how different species interact with each other in different environments, and how they are conserved. This trip complemented the A Level syllabus, but more importantly it also showed us how biology is implemented in the real world. Zachary Bloxham, Upper Sixth

ON THE BEACH

The last weekend in September saw the Geography Department set out for its annual trip to Dorset’s dramatic Jurassic coastline. Despite the weather and occasional need for storm dodging, the group gathered lots of data and place-specific information and gained practical fieldwork experience, all designed to keep the A Level examiners happy next June. CPF

CCF CROWBOROUGH CAMP

In the first week of the summer holidays, 14 cadets and NCOs were taken to Crowborough Army Training Camp, the base of our very own Sgt Wilson. The week was spent training for a massive inter-school competition and Lancing immediately got stuck in with a great attitude towards all the tasks and sessions. On the first day, Lancing was paired with Duke of York Military School (over 100 cadets) with sessions on ambushes, an introduction to OPs (Observational Posts), and Major Grime’s favourite, Laser Quest. Over the next two days we visited Bewl Water for mountain biking, archery, rock climbing, kayaking and other water sports, as well as a game of Arrow Tag (which included cadets and teachers pelting each other with foam arrows), a paintball range, obstacle course, and air rifle range. Cadets were also taught how to make a stretcher, carry a wounded person, and make and set fire to beacons that would act as signals for a landing helicopter. Thursday was competition day, beginning with a drill display for which the cadets had spent all week preparing. The cadets learned a whole routine with new aspects that were not taught at the college, including saluting and about-turning on the march. Other competitions included archery, survival, skill at arms, and a march and shoot exercise. Lancing Cadets claimed first place in archery, scoring more bulls eyes than all the other schools put together, and in Command and Task with the fastest time all week. Lancing also came second in drill, and in Kim’s Game, which involved a memory game, and in between, assembling and taking apart a gun while blindfolded. We arrived the second smallest school at the camp, and left victorious, as the overall winners of the week’s competition. Sophie Cleeve, Olivia Longhurst and Russell Woodger, Lower Sixth

BACK ON THE BEACH

The cold and windy weather didn’t stop the Upper Sixth Biology students from completing an independent scientific investigation into rocky shore ecology. A preliminary study on our first visit gave us time to think about the risks involved when trying to conduct an experiment near slippery rocks and relatively deep water, as well as giving us the opportunity to identify the potential problems we might face when trying to take measurements in such a hostile and variable ecological environment. Also, many of us used equipment that we were not familiar with, which allowed us to improve our methodological skills to more precisely use and choose scientific equipment for future experiments. The independence of these experiments greatly improved our investigative skills and we are now better prepared and very much looking forward to studying Biology at university. Zachary Bloxham, Upper Sixth

WHERE TO NEXT? •

CCF Adventurous Training, Snowdonia

•

CCF Self-Reliance Exercise

•

Cricket Tour to South Africa

•

Cuba

•

D of E Expeditions

•

Nepal

•

Physics trip to CERN

•

Biology and Geography field studies in South Wales

•

Sixth Form Geography Field Trip to Iceland

•

Spanish Exchange to Dominicas School, Oviedo

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WIND POWER

On a glorious sunny October afternoon, a small group of Sixth Form Product Design students went on an eight-mile maritime expedition from Shoreham Harbour out to the construction site of the Rampion wind farm. Having been turned away by E-ON’s PR and project management teams, it was up to Lancing College staff and students to educate themselves on the £1.3bn engineering project and to charter a vessel to see the 116 wind turbine sub-sea structures being piled deep into the seabed and miles of cabling trenched between the substation and landfall. Despite the proximity restrictions in place, the students saw first-hand an incredible cross-curricular blend of fascinating topics, from environmental impact to extremes of engineering prowess and ingenuity. The construction phase is due to continue through into 2018 and we’ll be admiring progress from up on the hill until the weather beckons us back out again. ARC

D of E ON THE DOWNS

On 29 October, following weeks of rigorous planning, six groups set out on a two-day expedition on the South Downs. We began with a hearty school breakfast and an array of last-minute checks that included our route cards and emergency rations. Once all checks were complete we set off and made our way on to the South Downs Way. Our fast walking gained us several extended breaks as we waited for our assessor to catch up, and we spent the time playing simple games that involved paper and fortune telling. Reaching the campsite was a relief and, up to this point, morale was running high and we all enjoyed reconvening with the other groups. After toiling with the gas cooker we managed to cook ourselves a feast that included tomato and cheese pasta and a vast array of chocolate-based

confections. Then it was ‘goodnight’ and back to our tents. However, my slumber was disrupted by droplets of water splashing on my forehead, and I realised that I hadn’t shut my tent door properly. The following morning I woke up to find I had overslept by half an hour and quickly began to initiate the repacking process. After bundling my kit in my rucksack we left the campsite, this time accompanied by the Verger, Mr Carey, who provided invaluable mental support as our energy levels deteriorated during the day. Back at College and speaking to the other groups, I concluded that for most of us it was a worthwhile experience, although the walking didn’t seem to be very popular! Overall I found the expedition quite enjoyable, especially the opportunity to observe and appreciate nature.

The inspection of the footpaths was our aim and generally they were good, but some – most notably the South Downs Way – had become quite worn out due to constant use. Lohith Konathala, Fourth Form

A MINI DAY OUT

At the end of September, the Design and Technology department and 40 Fourth Form GCSE students moved en masse to the site of the BMW Mini assembly plant in Oxford. The pupils saw first-hand how an industrial supply chain manufactures hundreds of vehicles a day, with a perplexing mix of customisable options. There were over one thousand robots performing synchronised placing, gluing, aligning and welding processes, making the day an eye-opening and exhilarating experience that will be remembered by the pupils and staff. ARC 14

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SCUBA DIVING IN CROATIA

As part of the first scuba diving trip, 24 pupils and four members of staff went to Pula, Croatia. We hit lucky with the weather as it was mostly sunny. However, a lot of people found the water freezing. The Open Water divers spent the first few mornings doing theory and learning the basics of diving and in the afternoons we did confined water dives in the hotel pool, which was a new experience for us all. On the last few days, we went into the sea to finish our skills and qualify for our Open Water dive certificate. For those doing their Advanced, Rescue, and Master Scuba Diver courses, the days were a little different, as all the skills were carried out in the sea. We went on a range of different adventure dives, including a night dive and a deep dive, at one of Pula’s best reefs. The Rescue divers had even more to do, with a lot of theory to cover in a short time. One of the most interesting experiences of the trip was a visit from a rather eccentric member of Pula’s A&E department to teach us about basic CPR. Needless to say, it was very different from what we would be taught in England and made for an interesting cultural experience.

DR FAUSTUS

On 7 September, A2 Lower Sixth English Literature students travelled to the Barbican Theatre to see an evening performance of Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. Having briefly studied the book in class and parts of a recorded performance on DVD, we felt that the performance came across in a way that none of us had quite expected. The play started with two men creeping on to the stage, each holding a match in his hand and in this tale of eternal damnation, it transpired that the actor whose match burnt out first would play Dr Faustus, and the other

The hotel we stayed in was amazing, with an extensive buffet every night and live music to dance to. In the evenings, we all got the chance to socialise and play cards, with the odd game of super-competitive backgammon, but we also had to squeeze in learning all the theory for our qualifications. On the last day, we all went into Pula on the bus for a tour of the 1st Century Roman Amphitheatre, where we learned about the town’s extraordinary history. We then had time to discover the town by ourselves before heading back. Croatia was spectacular, and I can’t wait for a chance to go back again! The last night was awards night: Most Improved Diver went to Zachary Allen; Highest theory test score went to Ivan Busha; the Twinkle Toes dancing award went to Samantha Worthington and Maddy Padgett; and Most Entertaining Student went to Isaac Fairweather. Maddy Padgett, Hannah Stanton and Samantha Worthington, Upper Sixth

the demon Mephistopheles. The use of lighting and props made the drama particularly credible and conveyed a further meaning to various scenes, which I had not thoroughly understood in my own reading of the play. The performance also captured the play’s more comical side, through the costumes and songs and the exaggerated theatrics of the Seven Deadly Sins. Overall it was a very enjoyable trip and a performance I would recommend to all. Pollyanna Hilton, Upper Sixth

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Music News The Music School is home to the joys and anxieties of music and being a musician.

Our doors are open to all-comers, from the highly talented, honing their particular and specific skills, to the hobbyist and the novice. All styles and genres of music are to be discovered in our little oasis of excellence, where the aesthetic experience is our peculiar goal. All instruments and musical disciplines are taught, including the usual, expected individual lessons to the less conventional. If someone wants to learn, we can usually find someone to teach them, and are more than happy to source less than commonplace teachers. If you come down to the Music School, you may well be in for a big surprise. Pupils (and teachers) can be found in rock music workshops, jazz improvisation sessions, conducting classes, composing seminars – and the recently inaugurated Lancing Opera Project has already become a landmark in the world of school-based opera. Perhaps we shouldn’t mention this, but people tell us that Lancing has simply the best music department in the south east. Why should we argue …?! Dr Ian Morgan-Williams, Director of Music (School)

STUDENTS IN FINE VOICE

Lancing’s A Cappella Club has certainly been in fine voice this term. Our first performance, at the Advent Concert, ELO’s Mr Blue Sky, was a real hit with the audience. It is an absolute pleasure to watch these young singers grow in skill and confidence, and I cannot wait to see what they can achieve by the end of the year. We’re already planning our repertoire for The Evening of Light Music – watch out for one or two surprises! Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to lock chords in an irregular time signature. CWL 16

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BRASSTARDS, BOTH YOUNG & OLD

Old Dirty Brasstards, London’s finest drum ‘n’ brass 10-piece, are Associate Artists at Lancing College. On 7 October they presented a day of workshops for pupils of Lancing College and Sir Robert Woodard Academy – jointly dubbed ‘Young Clean Brasstards’ – which culminated in a public concert at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing. This opportunity had been eagerly anticipated, with pupil musicians from as young as 12 performing with the band.

“Music to die for… Old Dirty Brasstards combining with the Young Clean Brasstards from Lancing College and The Sir Robert Woodard Academy entertained the crowd to rave reviews!” A typical reaction from an enthusiastic audience member The workshops, which were organised by the College’s Director of Music, Dr Ian Morgan-Williams, are the latest in a series of sessions with the Old Dirty Brasstards, whose education projects are flexible and tailored to the environment, scale and the pupils’ level of musicianship at each institution. Workshops focus on musical skills such as performance technique, intonation, ensemble playing and sight reading while playing alongside the Old Dirty Brasstards line-up (using simplified charts according to ability) and having lots of fun.

An Advent-ure in Music The 2016 Advent Concert

A grand and gleeful gathering, the audience queued to enter Great School, down the Quads and all the way to the steps, the excited chatter a prelude to the uplifting harmonies to come. The night sky gave way to Mr Blue Sky by the A Cappella Club and the race was on, from TV to RE, our senses gently massaged then exploded: the Concert Band directed by Mr Dummer and led by Harry Dichmont tiptoed from a Candlelight Procession to the rousing theme of Parker and Lady Penelope – yes – Thunderbirds went with a huge take-off to great applause from the packed audience, many standing at the back. Whizzing back to earth we were challenged by Sinfonia’s Roll of Honour, composed especially for the occasion by Mr Langworthy. Jeff Tracy wasn’t in attendance, but his spirit was there in the slightly unearthly tones, a contemporary balance of dissonance to those Blue Skies of harmony. The unlikely uniting of our senses came from Honk with their silky, sensual medley of jazzy Christmas carols by saxophone. From the sinewy, velvet sounds of the oxymoronically-named Honk, we came to a stonking Brass Ensemble directed by Miss Eira Owen. And Yuletide was upon us, December in every note,

sleigh bells by Nick Williams; we could just grasp the scent of Rudolf as the Bells Jingled and The Holly prickled. But no cosy fireside next ... party time with the Swing Band and back out to the stratosphere with Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock; audience toes were tapping and shoulders swaying, the Twist and Shouts all stayed at the front, though, and aptly brought us to the interval with Tequila, the last tempting Swinging sound, giving way to refreshments – less spicy but in good Lancing style – of white wine and red. Delighted spectators found that the need for a one-way system had moved from the road into Great School, so many were there whose joy in the auditory treats demanded a little liquid sustenance. Post interval, a truly ethereal experience awaited. Rosanna Wicks, soprano, effortlessly Rejoice(d) Greatly in Handel’s Messiah. A pure, elevating and full sound, supported by violins, bassoon and harpsichord, led to a standing ovation.

The evening now settling back into orchestral times, we continued with Handel’s Concerto Grosso XI in A Major Op. 6. No 11 performed by the String Chamber Orchestra, and directed by Dr Morgan-Williams, with violin solos by Seung-Youn Han and Nima Sabah. Five movements delivered with feeling and precision. The Symphony Orchestra led us to the finale, playing Bizet’s L’Arlésienne Suites Nos. 1 & 2, with Walter Chan’s musical chairs acting as an intermezzo as he went from alto sax to percussion, and on to Christmas, Berlin style: White Christmas, with flavouring by Dr Morgan-Williams, and a special guest appearance by a horn-playing Santa ZaClaus! Truly a splendid evening of song and making merry, enjoyed by a record audience, overflowing through doors and into classrooms. Yet another Lancing triumph provided by the Music School– thank you. Sean Van Eynort, Upper Sixth

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Drama News

Drama at Lancing seeks to involve and engage all five year groups in collaborating with enthusiasm and commitment, and above all enjoyment, to make great theatre, whether as actors or technicians. Across a typical nine-week rehearsal period, a close-knit Company is formed, building confidence, experience, and friendships, and creating enduring and cherished memories.

Matt Smith, Head of Drama

BEHIND A DIFFERENT SORT OF DESK

From a very young age I have always enjoyed going to the theatre, whether to see plays or musicals, although I have never had the confidence to appear on stage. In the Fifth Form, while we were beginning to make decisions about A Levels and our choice of university course, I had a dilemma. Some of my friends had clear ideas about their future careers and I was a bit stuck. Initially I favoured radio production, another medium that interests me, and I thought it would help if I got some technical experience: and so it was that I had my first taste of operating the Theatre sound desk. After volunteering to help with the school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I went on to manage the sound for Amadeus, a complicated script with over 60 sound cues. And this year, Coram Boy has been a real challenge, as I had to not only operate the desk, but also create some of the key sounds that shaped the atmosphere of the play. Through gaining such useful experience, I have been encouraged greatly in my ambitions and I am now applying to universities to study theatre production and sound design. It is only through the opportunities I have had in Lancing’s Theatre that I have discovered my passion for theatre sound and gained the confidence that I didn’t think I had. As I approach my last few terms at Lancing I’m grateful that these opportunities will have directly shaped my future. Molly Linfield, Upper Sixth

STAGE COMBAT WORKSHOP

The stage combat workshop was conducted by long-time friends of the College and professional stunt artists, Wayne and Aaron de Strete, for Thespians (the Drama Scholars’ society) and the actors involved in Coram Boy. Basic stage combat skills of how to ‘fight’ convincingly and safely on stage – delivering and receiving blows and falling – were taught, with a special focus on the climactic fight scene in the school play. By the end of the entertaining and, at the time, breath-taking, three-hour workshop, there was a definite improvement in everybody’s stage combat skills.

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Coram Boy:

Notes from the cast Approaching the Theatre doors on the first rehearsal night, not knowing anybody else in the production, I felt excitement and trepidation. Being new to Lancing, and as the only Third Former, I was the youngest member of the cast and didn’t know what to expect. Immediately my fears disappeared and I was rapidly swept into the warm and friendly drama ‘family’. The cast was professional and welcoming and though the rehearsals were long and hard work, and sometimes tiring, it was all worth it when I stepped on to the stage and finally the lights were upon me. When the actual performance nights came, the humorous encouragement of our inspirational director, Mr Smith, and the commitment of the backstage crew meant that even the opening night felt as relaxed as the dress rehearsal. Coram Boy was an amazing part of my welcome and first term at Lancing College, and I absolutely loved it. Alicia Hope, Third Form I always knew that Coram Boy would be a gripping play to perform. Once I received the script I soon realised that it contained a birth, a hanging and a drowning, all of which would have to be performed on stage. The rehearsals were challenging at first, with the cast having to become accustomed to performing on a stage that had little to no set, or onstage props. However, within a few weeks the cast all became used to the layout and structure of the stage and as lines became more and more fluent the drama started to take shape. Although certain scenes presented individual difficulties, the cast supported each other throughout, even when Ivan arrived at rehearsals with a broken collar bone! Every performance was enjoyable, and although the piece was very familiar to us the joy of having two double-cast roles gave every performance a slightly different and fresh approach on the night. Coram Boy was a wonderful play to perform—one that truly allowed everyone involved to get to know their character—and to put on an immersive show. Elise Kearsey, Upper Sixth

Coram Boy Coram Boy is a heady mixture of music, abuse, child trafficking, infanticide and Dickensian class and family conflicts – a rather odd choice for the National Theatre to stage as their seasonal offering back in 2005 – but a powerful and unusual one for Matt Smith to take on as this year’s school play. There is a lot going on. The first half, set in Gloucester in 1742, deals with loss and separation: in particular the tragedy that ensues when an aristocratic young musician, Alexander Ashbrook, (a seraphic India Froud who neatly transforms into the older Archie Deme) accidentally impregnates a governess’s daughter. The resulting baby is given to Otis Gardiner (Guy Bryman - oily and convincing) who ‘disposes’ of unwanted children. But the child is rescued and

transported to the Thomas Coram Foundling Hospital. Eight years later the family is reunited and what is lost is found. Strong performances abounded. Mish Gardiner, Otis’s abused son, was double cast and played viscerally by Freddie Williams and more innocently by Ivan Leggett (complete with sling from a broken collar bone!). Sarah Gurtler, Elise Kearsey, Maddy Padgett and Evie Bailey were pitch perfect in their roles. George Greenacre skilfully played the hard but ultimately human Lord Ashbrook, while Sacha TayyarBarnes made the most of his cameo as Handel. Strong support was provided by Ella Heryet, Will Jefferies and Mabel Woodley with excellent debuts from Jedida and Ikenna Dougnaglo.

And what a compelling production it was. Helen Edmundson’s adaption of Jamila Gavin’s sprawling novel was given visual and narrative coherence in its staging by the use of a raised platform downstage to represent wagon, ship, terrace and place of revelation of character to audience. Every other inch of the stage and gallery space was fully exploited to tell the complex tale. The music gave texture; bare stage spaces gave full rein to flowing and colourful costume (Alison Charteris) and were cleverly lit by Martin Chandler. The whole piece was relentless and poignant by turns and (in the opinion of this reviewer) made a far more satisfactory narrative whole than the original production. MJHS and his cast delivered, wonderfully. They always do. PCR

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Art News TEXTILES WORKSHOP

On Thursday 6 October, Fifth and Sixth Form Art students had the privilege of working with Annie Kemp in a textile workshop. This was useful because she showed us ways to create pattern and texture with different styles of printing and mark making. After looking through Annie’s sketch books to see the work she had created, it was intriguing to watch the steps of this tactile process – mostly the use of potatoes to create sophisticated patterns on fabric and paper. Having the whole day to fully involve ourselves in this experience allowed us not only to learn new techniques to adapt to our own work, but also to fully appreciate this new style of textile art, and we had the time to complete our own versions of the project. Taylor Ziarno, Upper Sixth

Art at Lancing aims to enable and prepare our young artists for the world beyond the College. All our students are encouraged to become visually literate; to be able to use and understand art as a form of tactile communication; and to have confidence and competence in reading and evaluating visual images and artefacts. All art has an important place in our students’ education, and we encourage them through visual literacy to look to the past while driving their creativity forward. In a world where visual art is no longer just about drawing and painting, it now takes so many different forms, from traditional fine art printing to high-tech installation;

RUINS AND ROMANTICS

In October, the Fourth Form Art students spent the day at Nymans Gardens, Handcross, sketching and photographing for their project ‘Ruins and The Romantics’. It was the perfect setting to gather source material and after a very chilly morning sketching in the shade, we were fortunate that the sun appeared and cast an altogether different light on the task, as well has warming hands and hearts. The next stage of the project will use their drawings for dry point printing and their photographs, which have been enhanced and manipulated, for ink studies and mono prints. TSA

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innovative architecture; Olympic opening ceremonies; and beyond. Creative and cultural industries contribute billions to the UK economy, and fortunately for our students, the UK has one of the largest creative industry sectors in Europe for them to aspire to be a part of. Kay Blundell, Head of Art

MAKING AN EXHIBITION OF OURSELVES

VENETIAN CLASS

At the start of Half Term, the Sixth Form Art students and teachers set off for five days in Venice to absorb the art and architecture. Days 1 & 2 - Georgia Clay: Our first day was taken up with travelling and on day two we took a water taxi for the first time, which went surprisingly swimmingly (pardon the pun), to Ca’ d’Oro where we had an informative tour with Nick Tang, who gave us an in-depth history of the palace. After drawing this magnificent building, we made our way to the other side of the canal to visit the fish market. We were then allowed to go off in groups for lunch, which was a great relief because, as you can imagine, sketching is a very tiring and hunger-inducing task. After gobbling down a pizza we had to find our way back to Palazzo Grassi, which was a rather stressful idea because our previous attempts at map reading hadn’t quite gone to plan. However, on this occasion everyone managed to get to the right place at the right time, with no injuries. Day 3 - Taylor Ziarno: On the third day in Venice, Lancing’s artists arose early in the morning to navigate their way towards St. Mark’s Square in time to join Mass at the beautiful Basilica. With its glittering gold ceilings and exceptionally detailed and skilful paintings, it gives Lancing’s chapel a run for its money. We then replenished our sugar levels by indulging in multiple scoops and flavours of gelato, which gave us the energy to draw the unreal scenes in Venice.

Day 4 - Diana Mykhaylychenko: We all prepared for the rain and went to the Venetian Ghetto. Father Richard gave us a tour and informed us that the gates were locked at night, and restrictions placed on Jewish economic activities. The architecture in Venice is full of mystery and beauty, but the one thing that impressed me the most was Titian masterpiece, Assumption of the Virgin, in the Basilica de Frari. The scale, colours and composition were stunning. Standing there, it felt as if all of the apostles’ figures at the bottom were trying to rise up against the force of gravity, and move together to follow Mary up to Heaven. I was fixated by its aura. In the evening we had free time to explore Venice even further and that evening I tried Venetian ice cream which was delicious! Day 5 - Varvara Kozlova: On last day of our trip we did a lot of stuff, and at the end we all were tired, even staff, we got impressed by magic show, there was a lot of glass to blow, the magic place was called Murano and after this we moved to a city full of colours called Burano. We had some time to sketch and eat and after supper went to bed with sore feet.

At the beginning of term, the College was pleased to host an exhibition for accomplished artist and 2016 leaver, Hermione Shaw OL (below), which opened with a private view in our Reception Gallery on 16 September. Hermione has always shown great initiative to get outside the classroom and find artworks that inspire and influence her in the real world. She is particularly passionate about colour, and is hugely inspired by Gauguin and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Hermione is now taking an Art Foundation course at City and Guilds of London Art School and is buzzing about her experience so far. We are really excited for Hermione’s future.

Our second exhibition, following the Half Term break, focused on the A Level coursework and exam pieces by another of our 2016 leavers, Cassandra Neathercoat. Cassandra began her investigations on the theme of Landscape by looking at the work of Joan Eardley and Anselm Keifer. Cassanda is a very organic painter and colour is something that she can handle and apply confidently and intimately. She developed her own style and language of Landscape through brushstroke movement and, later, with the addition of text and narrative. The body of work very much became an exploration of, and response to, the expression of emotion found in a landscape setting, and in self-selected, appropriate literature.

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Advent Sports Round-up

Sport is always high up on the list of activities at Lancing and we encourage all our pupils – boys and girls – to compete to the best of their ability. Our location ‘up on the Hill’ provides a huge benefit and not only do we have access to extensive playing fields, but being close to the South Downs and the sea allows us to broaden the sporting curriculum to include cross-country running, horse riding, sailing and canoeing.

Chris Crowe, Director of Sport

FOOTBALL

Congratulations to the U15A team and the 1st XI team who early in the term were each awarded the National Cup. Congratulations also go to Landry Cheta (Upper Sixth), our football star in the making, who has been selected for the ISFA South of England U18 team. During Half Term, our footballers represented the College in a very successful tour of Amsterdam. The U15 and 1st XI football teams trained with Ajax FC and Sparta Rotterdam and all benefited from the expertise on offer.

HOCKEY

Success at the Olympics seems to have inspired our girls’ hockey teams. Along with goals aplenty and superb play, we’ve been able to field our first ever 3rd XI girls’ team, who won their first match. Also, a relatively young 1st XI started the season with a bang by claiming three wins and one draw in their first four matches, scoring an impressive 23 goals. Alongside the footballers, the girls’ 1st XI also enjoyed a Half Term tour in Amsterdam, training with the top class clubs of Hurley and Pinoke. Boys’ Hockey has been equally successful, with the U15A and U15B teams remaining undefeated and showing great progress this season. The Sussex County trials saw more success for Lancing: 13 girls and eight boys being nominated from across the school.

NETBALL

This term, the players have improved significantly by participating in local and national tournaments. The U16A team made Lancing College history with its first outing in the National Schools’ Netball Tournament. Led by captain Lydia Brown (Fifth Form), defence was very strong and the shooters were prolific in scoring 37 goals in just 36 minutes. The team played some fast-paced and extremely competitive matches to reach the semi-finals and returned home suitably proud of their success.

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CRICKET

Congratulations to Nelu Mendis (Third Form) who has been selected for the U15 Sussex Cricket Squad. It’s an outstanding achievement by Nelu, who will be playing a year up, since there is no U14 team this year. Also, Jacob Coupe (Third Form) and Hugo Gillespie (Fourth Form) have been continuing their weekly training for the county trials.

TENNIS

On the first weekend of term, Harry Smith (Upper Sixth) claimed an excellent double by winning two titles in one weekend at Preston Tennis Club, where he triumphed in both the singles and doubles fixtures. Congratulations to the boys’ senior tennis team – Henry Pettit, Joe Bainbridge, Joe Rustom, Eugene Wong and Aleksandar Ochkov – who over the past three months have competed in a series of league matches to qualify for the Team Tennis Schools Senior Competition 2016–17. The next stage of the competition starts in January – results next issue.

SQUASH

Anje Bryant (Third Form) and Jasmine Hutton (Upper Sixth) have had another successful term and continue to lead the way in Squash. Anje won the Edgbaston National Silver event in October and Jasmine captained the Sussex U19 team to victory by winning the Inter-Counties Stage 1 competition. This is an excellent achievement in her first year of U19 competition. Jasmine has also made her professional debut in the Premier Squash League.

BASKETBALL

The 1st V have won the last four matches on the bounce (pardon the pun) and are hotly anticipated to win the Southern Schools League title – we wish them all the best.

FIVES

Blazing a trail of success is the top senior pairing of Ed Habershon and Harry Kelly ((both Upper Sixth). To date, their 100% record remains unbeaten with wins over Bryanston, St Olave’s and Emmanuel.

GOLF

A hearty well done to Charlie Gilgenkrantz (Third Form) on his selection for the Sussex U14 Golf squad. It’s a first for the College and the culmination of a good deal of hard work, patience and practice by Charlie – well done.

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A Whole-School approach to PSHE Involving parents in the individual care of their sons and daughters is second nature at Lancing. Our parents and guardians are a critical part of our provision. Working with them, and providing them with expert guidance in the form of our PSHE for Parents programme, is one way that we look to create a special relationship between parents, pupil and school. The headlines are full of stories about the challenges and pains of growing up and mental health is a frequent topic of conversation, debate and research. While this may sound alarming for many parents, laying the foundations for young people to develop fully as individuals who are self-aware and resilient members of a wider community is something that has been taking place at Lancing since our inception. It is in the Chapel, where children can explore the value of peace and the importance of exploring the concept of faith; it is in our estate, where children can explore the beauty of nature and the values of quietness; and it is in our Houses, where talking about problems and finding solutions to them are all part of everyday life.

Putting the children in our care at the centre of this philosophy is in the very foundations of our school and at the forefront of every mind. What makes this so valuable and long-standing at Lancing is the way in which this is embedded across the school. We adapt to the new challenges that society throws our way through a holistic approach to care, whether that’s through the PSHE programme, the Houses, or the Peer Supporters. However, we’ve been more and more convinced that involving parents in a structured fashion will be a crucial part of the way that we address these new challenges. Dan Connolly, Assistant Head Pastoral

PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is a significant and integrated part of the school timetable, with dedicated time set aside for each year group. The programme for each year group is different and involves outside speakers, small group work and specifically tailored sessions. This is complemented by the Peer Supporters, a supportive House

culture where senior pupils support younger members and mentor those new to the school, and our tutoring programme, which has been given even more support through the introduction of ring-fenced tutorial time. The Chaplain and school counsellor also have crucial roles to play in offering independent, confidential guidance and support.

PUPILS PLAY A VITAL ROLE AS PEER SUPPORTERS

ADVICE FOR PUPILS, FROM PUPILS

A central part of Lancing’s pastoral care, 34 pupils are trained as Peer Supporters working with and for pupils – and to act as a sounding board and safety valve, and also to signpost to other help, if needed.

Our online student magazine, View from the Hill, has a regular feature on mental health, written by pupils for pupils. In the most recent edition, Upper Sixth Former, Liv Nathan, gives this advice:

“It is vital that you monitor and look after your own mental health. Activities which can promote good mental health are frequent exercise. Other factors which promote good mental health are eating nutritious meals, getting outdoors as much as possible, having enough rest, socialising and limiting alcohol. It is also important to manage your stress levels and to engage in activities which relax you and give you pleasure, eg reading, art, listening to music etc. It is important to remember that whatever issues you are facing you are not alone. Your friends and staff are here to support you through anything. Despite how small an issue it is you think you are facing, if it’s affecting you it is an important problem to solve. Along with this, no matter how ashamed or embarrassed you are of your issue I can guarantee that the nurses and teachers here will have heard it all before and will not judge you.”

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MANDY SALIGARI 2016–17 PSHE FOR PARENTS PROGRAMME Through the Advent and Lent Terms there is a series of Saturday morning ‘Understanding …’ sessions which parents are invited to attend. In these sessions, we introduce recognised experts (see right) to help parents engage in a wider conversation about the issues that their children may face.

• Understanding Addiction – Advent Term • Understanding Drugs – Advent Term • Online Behaviour – Advent Term • Understanding Emotional Wellbeing – January 2017 • Understanding Resilience – February 2017 • Understanding Self-Esteem – March 2017 • Understanding Self-Harm – April 2017 Full information and how to register to attend these sessions can be found on the Lancing College Parent Portal.

Mandy Saligari is an addiction, relationship and parenting expert. She is also the clinical director of CHARTER Harley Street, a London day treatment centre.

DAVE PARVIN

Dave is a specialist in working with pupils, parents and staff in understanding the dangers of drugs and in recognising and dealing with the early signs of misuse. Dave is the owner of Drug Sense UK.

ALICIA DRUMMOND

Alicia is a BACP Accredited Counsellor and Parenting Coach. She works to promote strong mental health and emotional intelligence, which are the solid foundations on which children need to build their lives.

DR TINA RAE

both personally “I feel feelvery verywell wellprepared prepared both personally and intellectually, especially in political and and and intellectually, especially in political international affairs. The teaching goes well international affairs. The teaching goes well beyond the syllabus: I have enjoyed the politics and beyond the syllabus: I have enjoyed the politics and debating.” debating.” Upper Sixth Form Leaver 2016

Upper Sixth Form Leaver 2016

SIXTH FORM PUPILS DESIGN THEIR OWN LEAVING LANCING PROGRAMME

Designed to prepare pupils with the necessary skills for life beyond Lancing, the programme is developed in consultation with Sixth Form pupils, who share with us what they want to learn: chosen topics include budgeting and student loans, cooking and car maintenance.

Tina is a Doctor of Applied Child and Educational Psychology. She has over 30 years’ experience working with children, adults and families in clinical and educational contexts within local authorities and specialist educational services.

KARL HOPWOOD

Karl is an independent e-safety expert and former primary Headteacher. He works closely with Lancing to share his expertise with parents, pupils and teachers to help develop safer online behaviours and the promotion of digital literacy.

NATASHA DEVON MBE

Natasha is a well-respected writer and social critic. She works with Lancing pupils and parents to share her experience in vital issues of mental health and self-esteem among teenagers.

DICK MOORE

Dick has a passionate interest in adolescent development and emotional well-being. He qualified as a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor in 2012 and became an Associate Trainer for the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust in 2013.

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Academic Enrichment

“Schools need to prepare students for a world in which people need to work with others of diverse cultural origins, and appreciate different ideas, perspectives and values; a world in which people need to develop trust to collaborate across such differences; and a world in which people’s lives will be affected by issues that transcend national boundaries.”

Andreas Schleicher, Director, OECD Directorate for Education and Skills, and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General

The events of 2016 remind us as much as ever about the important role that Lancing has in preparing its young people to be successful global citizens. This is something that has been happening quietly at the College for many years in the traditionally quiet Lancing way and there are many examples that demonstrate our heritage in doing this daily, as a community. Within the Lancing day we often and consciously focus on other perspectives, imagining ourselves in the shoes of others through art and drama, reading, chapel services and assemblies. We encourage debate and reflection with our comprehensive Debating Society, PSHE programme and wider enrichment activities.

CAREERS WEEK

The annual Lancing Careers event gave Fifth Form pupils and parents the chance to meet and hear from 12 different experts about career paths and opportunities, skills required and ways to prepare for life after Lancing. “I thoroughly enjoyed the Careers Fair on Saturday and found it very interesting and insightful. It was incredibly helpful that the school was able to get speakers with first-hand experience in their chosen fields. I learned a lot about the qualities needed for success in my chosen areas such as teaching and medicine.” Harry “The pupils had their eyes opened to an array of different options and approaches to potential opportunities and pathways. Certainly, an extensive and searching debate was triggered in our house over the weekend.” Parent

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The College Outreach programme gives pupils an opportunity to work with diverse groups of people of all ages and is always a popular part of our co-curricular programme. Awareness and empathy of others is recognised across the whole school through the Lent Charities’ term and through the entire school involvement in the Malawi project. The living units of boarding Houses are where individuals learn how to manage living alongside others – and often others from very different backgrounds (cultural, linguistic, familial). The whole warp and weft of boarding is a longplaying exercise in flexibility, cooperation and acknowledging the boundaries of others. Leadership and ‘service’ is experienced at House and school levels through an integrated part of living and learning at Lancing.

THE VALUE OF INDEPENDENT LEARNING

Wilde, in Lady Windermere’s Fan, defines a cynic as a man who ‘knows the price of everything but the value of nothing’. At Lancing, we believe that to found an education solely on the production of examination grades is to know the price but not the value of learning. The true value comes in guiding and developing excellent thinkers who not only get top grades but, moreover, learn how to think for themselves. At Lancing, the opportunities for this run throughout and beyond the curriculum. Within the curriculum, all new Third Formers have dedicated ‘learning to learn’ periods, writing an independent project at the end of the year, in addition to a supervised period to pursue their own personal reading. Further up the school, the opportunities grow, from extension lectures given by leading experts in their fields, to a scholars’ extension programme open to all. In the Fifth and Sixth Forms, students can explore the Extended Project Qualification – an AS Level additional project where they write a dissertation, pursue an investigation, produce a performance or an artefact (anything from a novel to the design of a space station) under the guidance of a supervisor – while extension programmes like the Maths, Linguistics and Science Olympiad schemes allow further personal challenges. Beyond the formal curriculum, the newly designed day affords ever more opportunities to expand one’s horizons alone or in partnership with others. The Senior School is, indeed, performing a Wilde play in the Lent Term, while the opportunities for dramatic and musical composition and performance are vast. Students can debate, write creatively, learn to run a business or plan their own expeditions and even bid for money to fund their voyages. They raise money for charities and, increasingly, have a say in our School and Year Councils, in the direction of the College. This, beyond just grades, is the value of a wide-reaching education. Dr John Herbert, Deputy Head

SCHOLARS’ PROGRAMME

This term there has once again been a remarkably rich programme for the Fifth and Sixth Form Scholars, with lectures from leading academics, a joint Oxbridge Scholars’ Dinner with Roedean, and talks of exceptional insight, range and learning given by members of the Common Room developed from their own research interests. This is not to mention the intense week-in, week-out preparation for Oxbridge entrance, with a series of joint interview practice days set up with Roedean, Christ’s Hospital and Eastbourne College to refine our candidates’ preparedness for the rigours of Oxbridge interviews. The Scholars’ minds have been stretched, challenged and enthused by their engagement with learning at the highest level. At the heart of the Scholars’ Programme has been the determination that our students’ minds should be captivated by the sheer joy of learning through close encounters with exciting, newly-minted research. Cutting-edge interdisciplinary thought of significant international clout, for instance from Professor Christopher Howe from Corpus Christi College Cambridge, has rubbed shoulders with a wealth of research-driven discussion from old and new members of the Common Room. Miss Freeland has, for instance, considered the impact of the scientific development of optics in the 19th century on Art, from Pre-Raphaelite stained glass to Oscar Wilde; Dr Palmer has explored the philosophical concerns embedded in current Hollywood films; Mr Payne has underlined how essential Proust should be to a well-lived life; Dr Kerney has wrestled with Francis Bacon’s ideas of study and the political and historical implications of a ‘post-truth’ world; whilst Mr Carey has considered the thorny question of liberty. The discussion provoked has been long and searching; and it is in the fostering of this love of engaged, well-read and questioning thinking that success in top university entrance lies. Indeed, a high point of the term has been the lively hubbub generated by this year’s Oxbridge candidates as they chatted, debated and shared academic hopes and experiences with Roedean’s Oxbridge hopefuls in the joint Scholars’ Dinner in the Megarry Room at Lancing. This sumptuous intellectual and gastronomic feast, and the intelligent wit of the conversation it fostered, underlined all too clearly the rude good health of Lancing’s intelligentsia. Another good Lancing scholarly vintage is in the making. DAK

PUPILS JOIN OL MEDICAL SOCIETY DINNER

On 29 November the OL Medical Society Dinner took place at Lettsom House, home of the Medical Society of London. For several of our lucky Sixth Form pupils, who are thinking of studying medicine, it was a valuable opportunity to talk to the OL professionals about their future career and pathways into the profession. “Our trip to the London Medical Society was extremely enlightening and confirmed our desire to apply for medicine.” Kian Sobhanpanah & Ayn Panesa, Upper Sixth

UCL TRIP PUTS PHYSICS IN PERSPECTIVE

On Tuesday 29 November, a group of Sixth Form physicists attended a ‘Physics in Perspective’ day in London hosted by UCL. It featured five engaging lectures on topics that were both intriguing and mind-bending. Most notably Nic Harrigan, an enthusiastic and young science communicator, spoke about the power of quantum computers and the importance of embracing the weirdness that comes with particles at a minuscule scale, which abide to the laws of quantum mechanics. Simon Singh, an author and broadcaster, gave the second lecture about the Big Bang, and how this theory came about. He also taught us the ways in which people throughout the history of science had found evidence for it, from using mathematical formulas to using radio telescopes to observe the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation left over from the creation of the universe as evidence for such a theory. Jen Gupta gave a lecture titled Exploring the Invisible Universe in which she discussed dark matter and dark energy, as well as her role as an astrophysicist at the University of Portsmouth. The final lecture of the day was by Mark Lewney, who calls himself the “Rock Doctor”, and came on stage with an electric guitar. As well as impressing us with his superb music, he fascinated us with a fun and interactive lecture on the modes of vibrations of energy in the universe by introducing us to string theory. He concluded with a version of Bohemian Rhapsody on his electric guitar, which featured lyrics replaced by physics jokes. It was certainly an informative and intriguing day. Angel Chen, Upper Sixth

SCHOLARS’ DINNER WITH ROEDEAN

Early in November, Roedean’s Oxbridge candidates came to Lancing, reciprocating our visit to Roedean last year, and giving us the opportunity to wine, dine and discuss ‘the American Event’ with them. It was lively, with discussion ranging from Trump, to medicine and philosophy, via advice on the teachers we would face when we visit Roedean for the mock interviews, and back to Trump. One silver lining is that there isn’t any difficulty starting a conversation now: Trump is a topic that cannot and should not be ignored and, unlike the weather, is a subject to be grasped with passion. When the Roedean girls arrived at Lancing, there were the customary nervous glances and quiet whisperings on both sides, but within 10 minutes some mingling

had begun to happen and slowly the volume began to rise and did not decrease again. The food and a little wine all added to the fun of some table hopping and two short speeches, until, at 10.30pm, the Roedean ‘carriage’ arrived and conversation wafted out through the doors. With a last flurry of activity, phone numbers and Facebook names were hastily swapped so that our debates and liaison might be continued at a later date. Sean Van Eynort, Upper Sixth

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Reading at Lancing

Regular reading is the foundation upon which so much else is based. Of course pupils who read regularly perform better in any exams, but the real aim of the reading lessons is to encourage pupils to develop a love of reading with all the benefits that brings:

the simple (and complex) pleasure of immersing oneself in a book; a better understanding of themselves, others and the world around them; an increasingly sophisticated appreciation of how language makes the world; and a sensitivity to how words may be used

to soothe, to provoke, to manipulate, to deceive and, perhaps most importantly, to speak truths. And it is, I would suggest, true that a love of reading is a gift for life. Dominic Harman, Head of English

“Prep schools do a wonderful job of encouraging a love of reading and when pupils arrive at Senior School it is easy to see how this can tail off within a busy academic and co-curricular timetable. Our new programme in the Third Form ensures our pupils continue reading for enjoyment and also build literacy skills, such as critical thinking, listening, speaking, viewing and presenting.” Serena Marchant, Lancing College Librarian There is s a growing body of evidence that illustrates the importance of reading for pleasure for educational purposes as well as personal development. This evidence also suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests than those who don’t, but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures.

At Lancing we aim to create an environment where pupils grow up with a genuine enjoyment in reading and the creative arts. This is an important enabler of personal and academic achievement and a successful transition into adulthood. This term we have introduced a new library lesson for the Third Form where pupils are given dedicated time and space to read as part of their timetable.

Pupils are given free rein to select a book of their choice, reading this quietly in the period and taking it out on loan. Once the book is finished, they are encouraged to write a review which is uploaded on to the Learning Management System (LMS) for other pupils to read. In addition, Third Form tutors and teachers encourage pupils to reflect on their reading in regular meetings.

“We read to know we’re not alone.” William Nicholson, Shadowlands

“I think that the library session is the perfect time to clear your head and read a story. It is also a great opportunity to find new books and authors that you have not yet discovered.”

“I think it’s a really useful and enjoyable thing for us to do because it gives us the time not to think about lessons directly while we’re in the Library reading. I’ve discovered a lot of new authors and new books for myself, and I’m really glad we have this opportunity in our school.”

“It is nice to sit down and relax: I have found new books and authors.” 28

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A Day in the Life ...

Angela Brennan RGN, HV, BA – Health Centre Manager

There is no such thing as a typical day in the Health Centre and that is what makes it the best place to work within the College. The Health Centre is staffed 24/7 by me and my team of experienced Nursing Sisters. Our day starts at 7.00am when we unlock the door, and we are open for business. What each day brings can vary hugely, ranging from calm days through to hectic days full of challenges and unexpected events. We often see around 20 pupils, although this can rise to as many as 50. At the start of the Advent Term, when we’re introducing new pupils to the Health Centre and carrying out basic height, weight and colour blindness tests, we might even see 130 pupils. The daily routine starts with a drop-in self-referral clinic. We take these sessions very seriously. Young people away from home can find illness difficult to cope with; therefore the Health Centre team sees each person as an individual, assesses their needs, offers appropriate support – whether that be reassurance, medication or simply rest in the Health Centre. Of course, on rare occasions we find the odd ‘dodger’ trying to avoid a test or not having completed prep for the next lesson. The Health Centre is an oasis for some. For pupils, living in close contact,

attending sports fixtures, choir, play rehearsals, and of course maintaining their academic standards and meeting deadlines for prep can all take their toll. We are in a position to offer support, advice and, of course, a quiet and calm area to rest, recuperate and recharge, in order to continue with the fantastic challenges offered and undertaken. With Lancing offering a such wide variety of sports and activities, we do see a fair number of sports injuries. We are fortunate to have a very good Physiotherapist who visits the Health Centre twice a week, seeing pupils on an appointment basis. We are always picking her brains about particular injuries to ensure we are up to date with current practice. This is done informally or more formally during in-service training. We also have a Doctor’s clinic four days a week over lunchtime, avoiding the need for pupils to miss lessons. I must admit we enjoy the odd day when we have an unexpected incident. A little rise in pulse and blood pressure, not to mention a surge of adrenaline, help us to cope in a calm and measured manner with a host of different scenarios. These may involve a pupil, staff member or on-site contractor. Recently, a workman split his forehead when removing scaffolding poles. We mended this and there was no

‘vinegar or brown paper’ in sight. We do, of course, sometimes come across incidents that require emergency medical treatment, necessitating transfer to hospital; at other times we rely on the support of the House Matrons to help, escort and transport the less urgent. In addition to the daily running of the Health Centre, we work very closely with the Senior Deputy Head to ensure we are aware of those who may be feeling overburdened, tired or anxious. We are also involved in delivering PSHE lessons and first aid throughout year groups. We are a team of six Sisters with well over 175 years’ experience between us, from different branches of nursing, and even experiences in different countries. One valuable thing we have in common is that we are all mothers. We know how we would like our own children to be cared for, and we strive to reach that standard for the children in the College’s care, at all times. We all enjoy working with adolescents and trying to solve the conundrums and puzzles they often present us with. Although the Health Centre closes its doors for the evening at 10.00pm, there is at least one Sister on duty 24/7.

Angela Brennan (second right) with three members of her nursing team—Clare Johnson, Anne Hill and Jane Line The Quad ∙ Advent 2016

Lancing Prep Hove

ike all the new starters at Lancing Prep Hove, September brought for me a sense of excitement, tinged with nerves. Ahead of us all was a brand new start, which offers so many opportunities, but also reminds us that we have much to learn and many new faces to get to know. However, the nerves were completely unfounded. Each of us who started in September, whether the youngest in the nursery or a member of the staffroom, was welcomed with warmth and kindness. And this is what I say to anyone who asks me about my early impressions of the school – it is a place where goodness and kindness are as important as Maths and English. Of course, it would be easy therefore to assume that the pace of life at school is gentle, which could be just as easily mistaken for lack of ambition. Far from it. There is no such thing as a ‘normal’ day at Lancing Prep Hove.

STEM WEEK

While some of the older pupils were in France, the rest of the school enjoyed the challenges of a Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) themed week. From designing and building packaging for freshly baked bread, lava lamps using fruit and drinks, and towers built from cocktail sticks and dolly mixtures, to developing natural dyes to make their own tie-dyed book covers and building structurally sound and economically viable bridges, all ages got involved and discovered the real-world value of these interconnected subjects.

Lancing College Prep at Hove The Droveway, Hove, East Sussex BN3 6LU Tel: 01273 503452 Fax: 01273 503457 email: hove@lancing.org.uk

www.lancingcollege.co.uk

We’re on Twitter: @lancingprephove 30

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Already this term we have had a residential trip to France, a STEM-themed week, trips to art galleries, museums, the theatre and the farm, numerous sports fixtures, instrumental music exams, and inhouse training from the Samaritans. Looking ahead to next term, even more is promised and we will be busier than ever. Among it all, lessons continue and the children surprise me daily with their commitment to learning in the most innovative ways. Never before have I seen so many homework projects tackled through baking. The producers of the Great British Bake Off would be well advised to consider setting their new marquee in the grounds of LPH where there would be an abundance of contestants or judges on tap for them. With something new happening every day and space, both physically and metaphorically, to explore the world

around them, it is no wonder that the children at LPH are enthusiastic, engaged, often noisy and always cheerful. As my first term here draws slowly to its end, I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Kirsty Keep Head Mistress

FRENCH TRIP

On Tuesday 27 September, Mme Barber, accompanied by Mrs Silverson, Mr Richards and Miss Bowdler, took 45 pupils to the Château de la Baudonnière in Normandy, France, for six days. As part of the French language immersion trip, the pupils visited the beautiful and very moving Normandy landing beaches. After a visit to the 360-degree cinema at Arromanches showing original footage from 6 June 1944 and the port, the group went to the American

cemetery and war museum above the Omaha beach. The pupils also visited a local goat farm and learned how cheese is made from goats’ milk. Back at the Château, the pupils participated in the various activities offered, including raft-building, photography, circus skills, fencing, archery, aeroball and the (very muddy and ever-popular!) assault course. Pupils also had the opportunity to hear from Gérard how cider is made, as well as feed and hold the baby animals in the farm.

Evening entertainment from snail tasting to the French quiz and costume evening were great fun and the trip culminated in a fabulous show where many were able to show and share their talents, ranging from dance, song, drama and magic. The children were congratulated by the Château staff for their excellent French and superb behaviour and enthusiasm. As ever, the pupils had a full-on and amazing time and have returned brimming with enthusiasm for learning French.

NEW PLAYGROUND

Our new adventure playground was installed over the October Half Term. The children have had a fabulous time playing on the new equipment and a huge thank you must go to our PTA, who have worked hard to raise the funds needed.

TEAM BUILDING

On the first Thursday of the new academic year, Ms Barber, Mr Keep, Mrs Coutts and Mr Peters took the Year 7 pupils for a team-building day at Blackland Farm. It was a glorious, sunny day and a chance for the pupils to take part in activities such as canoeing, crate building and initiative exercises. The overall aim of the day was for the pupils to get to know each other and learn the qualities needed to work as a team. The Quad ∙ Advent 2016

Lancing Prep Worthing

t the beginning of this year, we were thrilled to open our new Foundation Library. This light, airy and vibrant space is already loved by children and teachers alike. Good libraries are important as they promote reading for pleasure and this, in turn, promotes great learning. At this time when many schools are having to close their libraries due to inadequate funding and when the children’s laureate, Chris Riddell, backed by all eight former children’s laureates, has made a powerful and passionate statement about the value and importance of school libraries, it is good to know that our library and our reading for pleasure is flourishing. Also at the beginning of this year we introduced DEAR: Drop Everything And Read. At 2.00pm every Friday a bell rings and every child and every adult in the school pauses for 15 minutes to read for pleasure. It is an absolutely glorious time and already the children look forward to it every week.

Lancing College Prep at Worthing Broadwater Road, Worthing West Sussex BN14 8HU Tel: 01903 201123 Fax: 01903 821777 email: worthing@lancing.org.uk

www.lancingcollege.co.uk

We’re on Twitter: @lancingprepwthg 32

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Reading exposes us to new ideas, improves our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, teaches us new skills, boosts our imaginations and helps us communicate with other people. We read in many ways and for many reasons, we read books and e-readers, in hard copy and online but, however we choose to read, the value of this activity cannot be underestimated and our focus on encouraging all our children to make excellent progress in reading and to love it for its own sake is hugely important to us. The Foundation Library will be formally opened in the spring by children’s author Philip Womack OL. The connection between pupils who attended the College in the past and our own pupils here now is powerful and supportive and we are very grateful for their support.

“When I finished reading Private Peaceful in DEAR I nearly called out! It was such an emotional book. I love that I got to finish it in school. It built up to such an exciting conclusion that I don’t think I could have stopped reading before the last page. It is the best book I have ever read.” Teddy, Year 6. So much enthusiasm and such a wonderful moment!

Heather Beeby Head

READING STARTS IN RECEPTION

Can you remember learning how to read? For many of us it happened so long ago we don’t remember a time when letters and words were a mystery. We take our ability to open a book, scan a page, read the words and derive meaning from them for granted. However, to children in Reception this is exactly what letters and words are: a mystery to be solved; a code that has to be cracked. Learning to read can be a daunting and frustrating process, but is also an exciting and rewarding journey. In Reception at LPW we aim to make the process of learning to read as much fun as possible. We primarily use the Jolly Phonics scheme, which introduces the children to the characters Inky (a mouse), Bee and Snake. Puppets of these characters are used to enliven phonics sessions and the children use the puppets in their free play. The children learn that each letter has a name and a sound (just as a police car has, for example), that a single sound is a phoneme and that two letters making one sound is a digraph. They use these terms with confidence and understanding. Within the Jolly Phonics scheme, each letter has a sound, an action and a picture (associated with the action). This means that regardless of whether a child is an auditory learner, a visual learner or a kinaesthetic (needs to be active) learner, they are able to progress with the scheme. Letter and sound recognition are practised each day in short but fun sessions and the children make rapid progress.

As soon as the first six sounds (known as ‘satnip’) have been learned the children are taught how to blend sounds together using words such as: sat, pin, tip, tap etc. This is the hardest part. A child needs to be able to hear the blend of sounds in a word in order to read the whole word. When you think that they are having to identify three letters, in the right order, say the sound they make correctly, run the sounds together quickly and hear the word that is produced… no wonder many children find blending their first words challenging. However, with patience and practice, at school and at home, children are able to begin to blend and read words independently, in their own time and at their own pace.

Phonic games are played in the classroom, blending activities are practised at school and at home and before too long the children (and parents) experience the excitement of the first reading book being sent home. But the reading process does not stop there: reading is not simply about decoding. The children now begin to ‘read’ a picture, to work out new or difficult words from context, to understand how characters are feeling and why. Their reading journey has only just begun. At the same time as they are learning to read, the children are learning to write. But that, as they say, is a different story.

STORYTELLING

Reading stories is something teachers and children enjoy equally, but a long held tradition that is often overlooked is storytelling. Storytelling is the act of sharing stories. Writing can be involved, but doesn’t need to be. It can be a retelling of a story, or involve the children writing their own stories and then delivering that story through spoken word and actions. It improves speaking and listening skills and motivates all, including those children who are less keen to put pen to paper. To give the children a first-hand experience of storytelling, Mrs MacCormack, our Year 2 teacher (right), told the traditional Austrian Christmas tale of Schnitzel, Schnotzel and Schnootzel.

**STOP PRESS**STOP PRESS** We entered the Worthing Herald Story Competition for the WOW Festival and were delighted to hear that Beatrice Turner won the junior section for her hysterically funny take on the Christmas myth and Amelie Kries Margaroli was the runner-up. Their stories were published in the Worthing Herald in December. Very well done! The Quad ∙ Advent 2016

Events for Prep Schools As ever, the College hosted a rich and varied programme of events for visiting prep schools during the Advent Term. The weather was kind to us for our outdoor sporting events: September’s U11 Football tournament; the inaugural prep schools’ Modern Biathlon in October; and November’s U11

Hockey tournament. Back inside, we welcomed a great number of promising young musicians to September’s Wind Band Festival, and October’s String Day. In November we had the annual Geography Quiz Inter-School Challenge, as well as our fiercely contested U11 and U13 Squash tournament.

IAPS PREP SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS’ CPD DAY In early October, Science teachers from 20 different prep schools visited the College Science department for an exciting day of professional development. After discussing this summer’s exam papers, we had a wonderful talk given by David Cutler on teaching binary and other number systems for life. Dr Preston followed this with ideas for post-exam activities for pupils, such as an extended project on the Rampion offshore wind farm at Worthing, or on pendulums.

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After a first-class lunch, we were treated to a demonstration on the ways to teach sound, which included an intriguing sound waves app that was brought to life with a variety of musical instruments played by Richard Kay. The final session was on demonstrations given by the visiting teachers, which included dancing flames on a Rubens’ tube, musical test tubes and a rocket launcher constructed from copper and plastic pipes. Dr Carole Cooper, Lancing Prep Hove

FOUNDATION OFFICE & LANCING SOCIETY OL News and Events from Home and Abroad

The sights for this advent term were set high with 580 pupils arriving in the school in September—the highest in the school’s history. This means a record number of 136 leavers next summer will be joining our ever-growing OL network. Your continuing association with Lancing is really important to us and you can see the extensive contributions you all make in the following pages. From participation in the OL survey to attending events, and supporting the Foundation, your involvement is key to Lancing’s future success. This term, The Foundation has funded £100,000 towards bursaries, as well as supporting two capital projects.

Lancing’s Grubber, a favourite haunt for OLs, is having a major facelift costing £96,000. The new thatched roof is underway and is already transforming the whole pavilion area. Meanwhile we have also funded the £20,000 refurbishment project for a new library at Lancing Prep Worthing, and we are delighted that the Foundation Library will be formally opened next February by children’s author, Philip Womack OL. Philip is also a literary critic for The Telegraph, Contributing Editor to the Literary Review and a judge of the Costa Children’s Book Award. I am, as always, indebted to all of you who support us in so many ways and look forward to seeing you in 2017.

Happy Christmas from all in the Foundation Office.

Catherine Reeve Foundation Director

Sir Christopher Meyer, Sir Tim Rice, Barnabas Hurst-Bannister

Foundation Council

The Foundation Council met at the end of November to acknowledge and thank two retiring members for their service over the last 11 years: Sir Christopher Meyer, Teme 1957–1961, and Barnabas Hurst-Bannister, Olds 1965–1970. Both men have had their diplomatic skills tested in defining and establishing the Council’s role and encouraging other OLs to support the work of the Foundation. Over £4m has been raised in the process and they leave the Council in good heart and fired up to take it to its next stage of fundraising for transformational bursaries in 2017. Sir Tim Rice, Second’s 1958–1962, was persuaded in 2005 by Robin Reeve (then Chair of the Governing Body) to lead the Council as Chairman as he felt development and philanthropy were going to play a key role in Lancing’s future. Sir Tim chaired the Foundation in his own inimitable way: distinctive, perceptive and always loyal to his old school. The College is privileged to have such devoted OLs serving it in so many ways. We are delighted to announce that from next year Sir Tim is going to move up to the new position of Patron of the Lancing Foundation. Hugh Scott-Barrett, Gibbs’ 1972–1976, will succeed as Chairman of the Lancing Foundation, from April 2017. Hugh has been a member of the Council since 2010 and, as one of Lancing’s major benefactors alongside Sir Tim Rice, is well placed to take the Foundation forward over the next decade.

Hugh Scott-Barrett, Robin Reeve and Tim Hancock

Dr Harry Brünjes, Sir Tim Rice and Dominic Oliver The Quad ∙ Advent 2016

Over 60s

Nigel Wheeler, Paul Baddeley, John Trotter, Neil Grainger, John Garratt and Peter Spall

Autumn Lunch

Simon Hodson, Olds 1969–1974, was our guest speaker and chose to reflect candidly on what he felt Lancing had done for him. Simon felt that one of the most important life skills he had learned was an ability to be adaptable to change. The Lancing he joined in the late sixties was experiencing change; a new Head Master, Ian Beer; a dedicated Sixth Form House outside the traditional House system; and girls. Dealing with change needs particular qualities – an enquiring mind, excellent communication skills and a degree of

Michael Jobson 36

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self-awareness. These qualities were acquired in the classroom, on the sports field, through debating, writing and living within a boarding community. After Lancing and a law degree, Simon joined Beachcrofts (as it then was) in 1984, became a Senior Partner in 2005, and was part of taking the firm from a solely domestic law firm with a turnover of £80m to an international firm with offices in 13 countries and a turnover of £200m. Five easier years, five more difficult years, but plenty of change.

Lionel Kevis

Simon acknowledged that what remains unchanged for him today, is the very deep sense of committed friendship that came from his time at Lancing. That sense of liberalism and laissez-faire combined with the support of friends is a powerful combination and he is delighted to see that these characteristics are very much a part of life at Lancing 40 or more years on. Our next lunch is on Thursday 27 April at the National Liberal Club with Paul Jarvis, Head’s 1962–1966, stepping up to the lectern.

David Goodhart

David Debere, Peter Robinson and Matthew Rogerson

Dominic Oliver and David Shipman

Nicholas Hopkins, Richard Gilbert and Nigel Belle

Robert Bowen and Toby Lucas

Nick Benge and John Goodall

Tony Charrington, David Shipman, Richard Rawlings and John Pratt

Ian Roberts, Gary Lees, Anthony Shepherd, Fiona Thompson and Simon Hodson

Paul Jarvis, Catherine Reeve and Robin Barton

Martin Todd, Simon Hodson, Tim Goodman and Robin Reeve The Quad â&#x2C6;&#x2122; Advent 2016

Alumni and Foundation Survey Lancing College has a wide community of former pupils, parents and friends who stay in touch with the school. During summer, we undertook a survey aimed at gaining a better understanding of the community’s motivations, needs and priorities. Here we share some of the findings, which will help inform the College’s new five‑year development plan and the focus of activities over the coming year. Memories of Lancing

Support for overall objectives

Nearly 700 people, from the age of 19 to over 100, took the time to answer a free‑text question about their memories of Lancing College.

Hearing about old friends and staff and staying in touch with the College were the highest‑rated perceived benefits of being part of the Lancing community (86% and 83% respectively of those answering this question agreed that they were a benefit).

The word cloud below shows the frequency with which individual words and phrases were mentioned by respondents.

Of the objectives suggested, protecting the culture and ethos of the College, and ensuring its long‑term prosperity received the greatest support (Figure 1).

“The best memories ever. Great friends, “Enjoyable teaching. Wonderful fantastic activities and brilliant worship. Eccentric and mostly kind friends. It was magical.” masters. Lifelong friendships.” 38

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Respondents would be most interested in news about their own year groups and there were also high levels of interest in news about past pupils and staff generally; latest news and events from the College; and news on how the College is developing (Figure 2).

“Wonderful teaching, encouragement to perform, learning to think and to pursue intellectual curiosity.”

Figure 1 To what extent would you support the following possible overarching objectives of the Lancing Society?

Fully supporting

To protect the culture and ethos of the College To ensure the long‑term prosperity of the school To enable disadvantaged pupils to benefit from an education at Lancing To establish a lifelong connection with Lancing To ensure continuation of the sporting tradition at Lancing To provide support and networking opportunities for pupils and parents To enable children of former pupils to benefit from an education at Lancing To provide financial support for parents who can provide only partial funding of fees

Base = 811 (18% did not respond to this question)

Figure 2 In trying to keep you informed about the College, we are interested to know what you find most interesting to hear about.

Very interested Quite interested

51% 49% 43% 41% 40% 34% 32% 27% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

56%

News about your own year group

40%

52%

News about past pupils and staﬀ generally

40%

51%

33%

Success stories from Lancing pupils

30%

About events for past pupils and parents

30%

Opinions on broader education issues from Lancing staﬀ

18%

News and updates on sport

17%

News about Lancing in the wider community

16%

News and updates on art, drama and music

16%

Latest news and events from Lancing Prep Hove and Lancing Prep Worthing Base = 657 (34% did not respond to this question)

59% 49% 47%

21%

Updates from the Head Master

60%

36%